A powerful and provocative argument on the role that race and racism play in modern Britain, by award-winning journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge In 2014, award-winning journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge wrote about her frustration with the way that discussions of race and racism in Britain were being led by those who weren't affected by it. She posted a piece on her blog, entitled: 'Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race'. Her words hit a nerve.

The post went viral and comments flooded in from others desperate to speak up about their own experiences. Galvanised by this clear hunger for open discussion, she decided to dig into the source of these feelings. Exploring issues from eradicated black history to the political purpose of white dominance, whitewashed feminism to the inextricable link between class and race, Reni Eddo-Lodge offers a timely and essential new framework for how to see, acknowledge and counter racism.

It is a searing, illuminating, absolutely necessary exploration of what it is to be a person of colour in Britain today.

About the Author

Reni Eddo-Lodge is a London-based, award-winning journalist. She has written for the New York Times, the Voice, Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Independent, Stylist, Inside Housing, the Pool, Dazed and Confused, and the New Humanist. She is the winner of an MHP 30 to Watch Award and was chosen as one of the Top 30 Young People in Digital Media by the Guardian in 2014. She has also been listed in Elle's 100 Inspirational Women list, and The Root's 30 Black Viral Voices Under 30.

She contributed to The Good Immigrant, a collection of stories from 21 exciting black, Asian and minority ethnic voices emerging in Britain today. Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People about Race is her first book.

Essential reading

5

I'm a white person so this book was never going to be an easy read, but it is an essential read. For everyone. It's also hard to review something that doesn't call for my opinion on it. This is not like other books where I can say they are good or bad, enjoyable or not. It's not even about if I agree with it or not.
It's not a comfortable feeling having these issues laid out on the page in front of you. But this isn't about me, it's about a wider societal problem. Very important to keep that in mind when reading - Eddo-Lodge is not attacking me so I shouldn't get defensive. But she is criticising something I'm a part of by default and recognising my part in that is critical to coming away from this with positivity and not despondency or frustration. Because I think it is positive overall, despite the title that on the surface seems like the author has given up. She hasn't - she's just pointing out that the conversation itself, and those who participate in it, needs changing.
The biggest take away for me, and perhaps what Eddo-Lodge meant with the title, is that it's not up to others to educate us. I need to do that myself by really hearing what those who have actually experienced racism, both in the everyday and as part of the structure of Western society. In this case, as a white person, it's not about how I might feel when someone addresses white privilege - it's about recognising that I have it, and accepting that. It's the same thing feminists ask men to do, so why is it received so negatively here? Think mansplaining, but this time it's about race and intersectionality. Intersectionality has been criticised for creating division, but all it really does is acknowledge that different experiences exist across gender, politics, social class, race, education, etc and looks at how they interact. As Eddo-Lodge says: "If feminism can understand the patriarchy, it's important to question why so many feminists struggle to understand whiteness as a political structure

Hannah

Sydney

2018-07-04

true

An interesting and in-depth perspective of structural racism

4

Great book, causes you to see outside of your own perspective so approach it with an open mind. Some points challenged my own developed thought processes on racism and it's impact. Although the book is based off of British statistics I found it a very interesting read and insight into what may very well be impacting the world, and those colonised by Britain way back when.
I liked the way she doesn't ask for pity for being black, but she just seeks to educate and give white people insight into the world we have created that fails to create equality for all people. This was an issue before 'gender fluidity' was ever an issue.

Krystal

Brisbane, Aus.

2018-01-30

true

36102069

4.52

100.0

This is a book that was begging to be written. This is the kind of book that demands a future where we'll no longer need such a book. Essential * Marlon James, author of Man Booker Prize-winning A Brief History of Seven Killings *One of the most important books of 2017 -- Nikesh Shukla, editor of 'The Good Immigrant'A book that's set to blow apart the understanding of race relations in this country * Stylist *An incisive and uncompromising commentator on the iniquities of oppression ... Comprehensive and journalistic, the book leaves a devastating trail of case histories, statistical and anecdotal evidence, personal stories and opinion about the manifestation of overt and covert racism ... Eddo-Lodge is a gifted writer, with a talent for bringing together debates around race, gender and class in a timely and accessible way * Times Literary Supplement *Daring, interrogatory, illuminating. A forensic dissection of race in the UK from one of the country's most critical young thinkers. Reni's penetrative voice is like a punch to the jugular. Read it, then tell everyone you know -- Irenosen Okojie, author of 'Butterfly Fish'I've never been so excited about a book. Thank God somebody finally wrote it ... Blistering ... Absolutely vital writing from one of the most exciting voices in British politics. A stunningly important debut ... Fellow white people: It's our responsibility as to read this book ... This book is essential reading for anyone even remotely interested in living in a fairer, kinder and more equal world -- Paris LeesIt's deep, it's important and I suggest taking a deep breath, delving in and I promise you will come up for air woke and better equipped to understand the underlying issues of race in our society -- Sharmaine Lovegrove * ELLE *A riveting deep-dive into the history and communication of race in Britain. From white-washing to intersectional feminism, it is an eviscerating and hugely educational read ... This book is destined to become cult * Red *A wake-up call to a nation in denial about the structural and institutional racisms occurring in our homes, offices and communities * Observer *Laying bare the mechanisms by which we internalise the assumptions, false narratives and skewed perceptions that perpetuate racism, Eddo-Lodge enables readers of every ethnicity to look at life with clearer eyes. A powerful, compelling and urgent read * Ann Morgan, author of A Year of Reading the World *A strong assessment of our current conversations and the beginnings of a new framework for grappling with racism * Emerald Street *A seething take-down of commonly held attitudes towards race and racism in the UK and beyond ... Entirely essential ... Eddo-Lodge reveals why anti-racist work should be a universal objective, even if racism isn't a universal concern. The book is ultimately a defiance against the silencing of people of colour * The List *Eddo-Lodge is digesting history for those white readers who have had their ears and eyes shut to the violence in Britain's past ... An important shift that undermines the idea that racism is the BAME community's burden to carry. The liberation that this book offers is in the reversal of responsibilities * Arifa Akbar, Financial Times *Eddo-Lodge accurately takes the temperature of racial discussions in the UK. In seven crisp essays, she takes white British people to task for failing to accept that "racism is a white problem" ... She's strong on the pervasive racial marginalisation of black people * Guardian *Thought-provoking (and deeply uncomfortable) ... What Eddo-Lodge does is to force her readers to confront their own complicity ... Her books is a call to action ... What makes the book radical is the way it shifts the burden of ending racism on to white people * Sunday Herald *Searing ... A fresh perspective, offering an Anglocentric alternative to the recent status-quo-challenging successes of Get Out and Dear White People. This book's probing analysis and sharp wit certainly make us pray she will continue talking to white people about race * Harper's Bazaar *The black British Bible ... I discovered more about Black British history in that one chapter than I ever did through my secondary school education ... I owe Reni for doing much of the hard work and instigating dialogue that I've never had time to do, often put off, or simply found too painful * Gal-Dem *`Reni Eddo-Lodge is that rarest of delights - a young, working -class black woman from Tottenham with a voice in public life ... This book is a real eye-opener when it comes to Britain's hidden history of discrimination ... A book like this matters now * Refinery 29 *Now it's out of her head, it's on the shelves and accompanied by a hugely successful regional tour that sees people of all colours, all races and all genders queuing up to ask questions, to share their own frustrations and to thank Reni for finally giving them a voice * i-D *Her searing examination of what it means to be a person of colour in Britain today covers a lot of ground, from the murder of Stephen Lawrence and the whitewashing of feminism to the casting of a black actress as Hermione in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child * Independent *Eddo-Lodge explores the nuanced ways in which racial prejudice continues and is ignored * Vogue *Vital dialogue from a powerful voice * Daily Telegraph *To anyone who has not thought much about the subject, what she finds will be a revelation ... Impassioned and often moving ... Undoubtedly essential * Ellah Allfrey, Spectator *This book has a vital role as a tool that people of colour can refer others to, particularly when called upon, yet again, to parrot the ABCs of racism ... This is the book to give your problematic family friend/neighbour/uncle ... Marks the beginning of a national conversation that many have been trying to have for a long time * New Humanist *Shines a light on a conversation about race, racism and whiteness that must be had in every village, town and city in the UK and beyond. This is an absolute must-read -- Simon Blake, Chief Executive of the National Union of Students * Resurgence & Ecologist *The political book of the year - and one all your friends will be engrossed in * Pride Magazine *Fresh and challenging * Mslexia *